Custom wheel assembly
A custom wheel assembly for use in mounting spinners to hub centric wheels. This is accomplished through the use of a mandrel hub that is placed through the center bore of a hub centric wheel. This mandrel hub incorporates a shaft that permits the attachment of a spinner to the wheel.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/516,005 filed Oct. 31, 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
Applicant's invention relates to custom wheels and more particularly a custom wheel assembly that incorporates a mandrel hub for attaching wheel spinners to hub centric wheels.
2. Background Information
Nowadays, there is a general trend among vehicle owners to make their vehicles more attractive by the addition of custom wheel spinners. Unfortunately, not only are custom wheel spinners expensive, but many currently do not fit appropriately with some hub centric wheels. In many instances, in order to secure the spinners to these hub centric wheels, techniques are used which can lead to faulty vehicle operation and/or extensive vibration.
There is no known art which secures the spinner to the hub centric wheel without sacrificing vehicle safety and operation and/or without extensive vibration. The present invention was designed to satisfy this need in the art. The benefit of the present invention is accomplished through the use of a mandrel hub which is placed behind the wheel and through the wheel bore before placement of the wheel onto the wheel hub. The mandrel hub incorporates a shaft on to which the wheel spinner can be attached. The mandrel hub of the present invention is particularly designed to work in coordination with the custom wheel assembly of the present invention and can be adapted for use with all vehicles and wheel hub types. In addition, with obvious modifications the mandrel hub can be adapted to conform to any known or obvious custom wheel assemblies as well as any newly developed vehicles and wheel hub types.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel custom wheel assembly that can be used to attach wheel spinners to hub centric wheels.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel custom wheel assembly that can be used to reduce and/or eliminate vibration in wheels that incorporate spinners.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel custom wheel assembly that incorporates a mandrel hub designed to fit within the wheel bore.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a novel custom wheel assembly that includes a mandrel spacer for attachment over the mandrel hub.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel custom wheel assembly that incorporates a spinner for attachment to the mandrel hub.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide novel custom wheel assembly that is designed to keep the spinner within the depth of the wheel for visual appeal.
Still an additional object of the present invention is to provide novel custom wheel assembly that incorporates a ring within the mandrel hub having an outer diameter to fit within the mandrel hub, but an inner diameter that varies so the wheel can be attached to any size wheel hub to make the wheel hub-centric.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel custom wheel assembly that incorporates a lip at the base of the mandrel hub.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a novel custom wheel assembly that includes a spindle sleeve with an encased bearing that can be placed over the mandrel hub to permit independent rotation of the spinner.
In satisfaction of these and related objectives, Applicant's present invention provides a custom wheel assembly that incorporates a mandrel hub for attaching spinners to hub centric wheels and for reduction and/or elimination of vibration in vehicles incorporating such hub centric wheels with spinners.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The first side 105b of said hub ring 105 is inserted into the central bore 104 of a first side 111a of a wheel 111. The wheel 111 is conventional for the make and model of the applicable vehicle and contains a plurality of openings 110 for accessing air to the brake drums. This insertion of hub ring 105 into central bore 104 renders the wheel 111 hub-centric on the vehicle. The threaded portion of the hub ring 105 will protrude through the wheel 111 and out of the central bore 104 of the wheel 111 allowing for a center cap 107 to be installed over the center hub 108. Center cap 107 is of appropriate dimension to be placed over center hub 108 to complete the custom wheel assembly 100. Center cap 107 is preferably threaded inside and frictionally attaches, but preferably screws onto the threaded portion of hub ring 105. The hub ring 105 and the center cap 107 are threaded in the appropriate direction to permit tightening of the assembly each time the vehicle is in motion. The inside diameter of center cap 107 varies according to the make and model of the vehicle. Center cap 107 is preferably made from aluminum or plastic, but may be made from any suitable material. Once center cap 107 is in place, second lip 109 lays flat against wheel 111. Center cap 107 is held in place preferably with a screw, and most preferably with a black torx headed set screw. The center cap 107 may contain indicia and/or design elements for various custom wheel assemblies.
In a more detailed illustration shown in
While the hub ring 105 has been useful for rendering non-hubcentric wheels hub centric to reduce and/or eliminate vibration, this hub ring 105 has also been found to reduce and/or eliminate vibration even in hub centric wheels particularly where additional components have been added to the wheels such as spinners. However, there are some types of hub centric wheels which do not permit the placement of hub ring 105. It is for these types of wheels that the present invention was designed.
In
The first end 332 of mandrel hub 304 is positioned on a shaft 338 extending from a base 340. This shaft 338 allows for a mandrel spacer 308 to slide over the shaft 338 and fit down onto the base 340 of mandrel hub 304. A first washer or spacer 310 is provided and added to the shaft 338 of mandrel hub 304. A spinner sleeve 360 (
The first end 332 of mandrel hub 304 is positioned on a shaft 338 extending from a base 340. This shaft 338 allows for a mandrel spacer 308 (See
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon the reference to the description of the invention. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A custom wheel assembly to reduce vibration of a vehicle utilizing custom wheels comprising:
- a wheel hub having a plurality of equispaced lugs;
- a mandrel hub, wherein said mandrel hub is placed at the center of said wheel hub inside the perimeter established by said equispaced lugs;
- a wheel through which is inserted an upper threaded portion of said mandrel hub; and
- an accessory removably threaded to said upper threaded portion of said mandrel hub.
2. The custom wheel assembly of claim 1 wherein said accessory is a spinner.
3. The custom wheel assembly of claim 2 further comprising a cover placed onto the center of said spinner.
4. The custom wheel assembly of claim 3 further comprising a spacer placed over said mandrel hub.
5. The custom wheel assembly of claim 4 wherein said mandrel hub comprises a shaft extending from a base.
6. The custom wheel assembly of claim 5 further comprising a spinner sleeve positioned over said shaft.
7. The custom wheel assembly of claim 6 wherein said spinner sleeve comprises an encased bearing.
8. The custom wheel assembly of claim 6 wherein said spinner sleeve comprises exterior alignment grooves for mating with said spinner.
9. The custom wheel assembly of claim 8 wherein said mandrel hub houses a ring within said base.
10. The custom wheel assembly of claim 9 wherein said spinner comprises alignment notches for mating with said spinner sleeve.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 30, 2004
Publication Date: May 5, 2005
Inventor: Ronald Necaise (San Antonio, TX)
Application Number: 10/903,677